Sometimes the truth is difficult to hear … or dangerous to tell. Sometimes, you have to serve it up with a helping of irony. And sometimes, you really DO have to use a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. Such is the case with Count Basie’s classic 1940 record, “It’s The Same Old South.”
Debuted in the satirical labor revue “Meet the People,” Jay Gorney penned the music to this infect
ious, swingin’ tune that packed dance floors across the country. While at the same time, Ed Eliscu’s subversive lyrics told a story quite different from the history books. Life as a Black person in American society wasn’t as cheery as it appeared on the surface.
“It’s The Same Old South” brilliantly depicts our society as a study in contrast. Like the song, the story of the American way can sound sweet and melodic. But listen a little closer, and the lyrics of child labor, tar & feathering, and bloodhounds chasing union organizers declare that the beautiful landscape of the United States wasn’t so lovely after all.
“Soundtrack to the Struggle” is produced by Ron Adkins. “Same Old South” written by Bob Naujoks. Executive Producer Dennis Green. Host: Hollis Monroe.
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January 23, 1943. Carnegie Hall. Duke Ellington and His Orchestra make their debut at the legendary venue. On the program is the premiere of Ellington’s new magnum opus – his three movement jazz symphony, “Black, Brown & Beige.” It is Ellington’s longest and most ambitious composition to date. Admittedly, the piece as a whole is under-rehearsed and rough in spots. But Duke is excited to use this stage-of-all-stages to make a grand statement on the Black condition.
Hey, Jazz fans, be sure to tune in this week as we celebrate the birthdays of pianists Eubie Blake and Sir Roland Hannah, drummers Chick Webb, Joe Dodge and Eddie Locke, bassist Walter Page and more. We’ll also mark the recording anniversaries of John Coltrane & Red Garland’s “Soultrane” (1958), “Larry Young In Paris: The ORTF Recordings” (1965), Ella Fitzgerald/Joe Pass “Fitzgerald and Pass… Again” (1976), Machito and His Salsa Big Band’s “1983 Grammy Award Winner” (1982), T.S. Monk’s “Monk on Monk” (1997) and many others Mondays thru Fridays at noon on JAZZ MASTERS ‘on Jazz 88.3 KCCK.
Jazz Corner of the World Encore 
Jazz Night in America
Listen to this week’s playlist on 
Although Ira Sullivan performed with jazz luminaries like Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and Art Blakey, his music is not as widely known among general audiences. He limited his touring performances and instead chose to focus on teaching at the esteemed Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, becoming one of the leading jazz educators in the U.S. Sullivan passed away in 2020, but his musical legacy lives on in a new recording project, “Ira The Tribute Album” by the Blue Road Records Band. The ensemble is made up of some of the sterling musicians who have made a home in South Florida, including one of Ira’s sons, guitarist Brev Sullivan, who brought his father’s complex charts to the recording sessions.
